Don your knitwear and whet your appetite for Winter in Europe on the European Discovery. From a traditional German beer hall to a breathtaking Austrian mountain range and a gelateria in Rome, you will get a taste for all the best bits, ticking off 9 countries in 12-days. By the time you get back to London you'll be completely smitten by all things Europe.

Itinerary

01

Day 1: London to Amsterdam

Yourheart-pounding adventure kicks off today. Meet up with your Contiki posse & share notes on London town before hitting the road to Amsterdam.Shortly before we find our ferry for Europe, we'll be taking in the English coastline beauty of the White Cliffs of Dover. They owe their gorgeousness to their composition of chalk - you're learning and we haven't even left the UK!Off the ferry we arrive in the port town of Calais - French soil! We travel north via Belgium before reaching ... Amsterdam!Cross off another country off your list as you cruise through Belgium on your way to Amsterdam.Tonight, the famed for fun Amsterdam is ours to explore following an optional evening canal cruise. An undisguised Red Light District & plenty of bars are there for the curious.

02

Day 2: Amsterdam to Rhine Valley

Now it's time to pour some sunlight on the agenda & take in the beauty of canals, crooked buildings, obscure museums & a café culture like no other.After the scenic journey of fairytale castles, vineyards and valleys, you'll be charmed before we even arrive in Germany's famous Rhine Valley. This back-in-time town is our wine tasting host for the evening. Squeal!!!

03

Day 3: Rhine Valley to Munich

Too much grape juice last night? Not to worry, the prospect of Munich should lift your spirits as we travel south & swap wine culture for beer.Today our eyes will be treated to a famous Gothic clock, a charming old town & traditional Bavarian culture. You'll have the option to explore the side streets by foot and afterwards why not choose to explore one of the city's many beer halls, where you can try a stein of beer or even a pork knuckle!

04

Day 4: Munich to Innsbruck

Goodbye Munich, hello mountains. We're hitting the road in search of lands so sweet they made The Sound of Music.After crossing through the Bavarian Alps, its time to head to this famous Olympic town and your jaw will drop at the sight of the famous ski jump, and you'll have a chance to soak up the medieval old town atmosphere for the afternoon, don't forget to try a piece of delicious Austrian strudel and some local schnaps!

05

Day 5: Innsbruck to Venice

Wake up with the gorgeous snow capped Alps as your backdrop roamers, we have a bountiful breakfast and a floating city in Italy to tend to. Life's tough!You'll think you've seen enough beauty for one day after taking in the Central Austrian Alps & Brenner Pass en route to Italy. And then we'll arrive in Venice & your jaw will hit the floor over hidden lanes, story book bridges & a private canal boat ride.

06

Day 6: Venice to Rome

Farewell floating city, but Italy, we're not done with you yet, our next destination the Eternal City of Rome is just around the corner.The afternoon will really take it up a notch as we uncover Italian icons in the country's capital of Rome as you get a glimpse of it's glory by night. Gelato, pizza and ancient monuments - perfecto!

07

Day 7: Rome with Vatican City

Rome wasn't built in a day - so get up and get going early to make the most of this ancient city.When in Rome...take an optional guided tour of the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. Religious or not, the Vatican's Italian Renaissance church will send shivers down your spine. This is also the day to learn a thing or two about the Colosseum & do a bit of your own exploring.Then hit the streets for your own discoveries. Snap pink azaleas by the Colosseum, throw coins in fountains and sip espresso in a pretty street watching Italian life float by.

08

Day 8: Rome to Florence

We may be hitting the road again, but we're not done with Italy just yet. We have one more city to lust over…The dome of Duomo Cathedral sits above the city making certain we know we have arrived in Florence. Take a moment to take in the unique beauty of this beautiful city where culture and la dolce vita is evident in every direction you look at. We'll become history buffs on a guided walking tour before we learn the art of leather. Tonight you can choose to begin your Tuscan love affair at an optional dinner - think olives, cured meats, crostini & wine.

09

Day 9: Florence to Lucerne

Say a fond farewell to Italy, and hello to the land of creamy chocolate, cheese and not to mention watches. Hello Switzerland!Swans float under wooden bridges, snowcapped mountains stand regally behind us & chocolate tastes like heaven on earth. You're in the Swiss Alps & you cannot wipe the smile off your face. Eeek!!!

10

Day 10: Lucerne to Paris

Out with the altitude, in with the inner-city Parisian bliss. Once we've crossed the border out of Switzerland we will be coasting through the pretty wine producing region of Burgundy before our arrival in Paris.Lamp-lit bridges, a sparkling Eiffel Tower, & evening coffee haunts, tonight we fall in love with everything Paris. Our Trip Manager fills us in on the city's secrets, then to celebrate our first night in the city, we'll head up to the viewing platform on Montparnasse tower.

11

Day 11: Paris

Today you can drool over haute couture, admire the Notre Dame Cathedral whilst juggling coffee and crêpes, & get artsy at the many museums of the Louvre. Just don't wear yourself out, you will probably want to get involved with dinner and the Moulin Rouge cabaret show. With your last night looming, make it one to remember in the city of lights.

12

Day 12: Paris to London

Soak up your last dose of Paris this morning over a coffee and croissant and marvel at how much you've seen. And how close you've grown to your Contiki pals. Sob! Hop back on the coach for a complimentary transfer to CDG airport this morning, or stay onboard for the ride back to London. Plenty of time to start planning the next reunion...What a journey! Say a fond farewell to the group as you wrap up the trip on arrival in London.

For 11 nights, you'll be treated to the luxury of hotels in the best bits of each destination we visit. Sleep twin or triple share, or upgrade to single share for a little bit extra

Food

We'll be gourmandising all over Europe on this trip, sampling moreish local cuisine like fresh seafood and saucy pasta. 11 continental breakfasts will be included and 5 three-course dinners

Staff

A highly trained Trip Manager who brings your adventure to life. An expert driver who knows foreign roads better than Google Maps. Local Guides who make tourist traps a thing of the past. This is your team. Smart, friendly, fun, and integral to everything we do

*Free within inclusive minutes package on mobile otherwise standard rates apply. Many of the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on www.statravel.co.uk are financially protected by the ATOL scheme under Air Travel Organisers’ License (ATOL) number 3206. But ATOL protection does not apply to all holiday and travel services listed on this website. Therefore, please ask us to confirm what protection may apply to your booking. If you do not receive an ATOL Certificate then the booking will not be ATOL protected. If you do receive an ATOL Certificate but all the parts of your trip are not listed on it, those parts will not be ATOL protected. Please see our booking conditions for information, or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate. Book with Confidence. We are a member of ABTA which means you have the benefit of ABTA's assistance and Code of Conduct. We provide financial protection for your money when you buy a package holiday. If you buy other travel arrangements such as accommodation only this protection doesn't apply. For the latest travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, click here.